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Posted on: January 3, 2017

Looking For a Good New Year’s Resolution?

Summit County has 17 suggestions for 2017

Contact:

Julie Sutor, Public Affairs Coordinator

970-453-3498, julie.sutor@summitcountyco.gov

SUMMIT COUNTY – It’s New Year’s resolution season, and many Summit County residents are looking for ways to do good for their health, happiness and the community. Summit County departments and elected offices have come up with a slew of great suggestions for 2017, and none of them involves fitting into a smaller pair of pants.

2. Open Space & Trails: Leave no trace. When hiking, riding, biking or skiing in our open spaces and forest lands, be sure to dispose of waste (including dog waste) properly. Pack it out to protect wildlife and to be considerate of those who come after you. Learn more at www.lnt.org.

3. Public Health: Learn the signs and symptoms of depression. Emotional health is just as important as physical health; mental health conditions are real, common and treatable. Find out how to recognize if you or someone you know is suffering from depression by familiarizing yourself with signs and symptoms. Learn more at www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression.

4. Building Inspection: Plan ahead on any home improvement projects you’re considering, so that your permits are in hand when spring arrives. Permit submittals and applications are encouraged while it’s still snowing, and construction activity is slower. Visit our office with any questions you might have for your upcoming improvements. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/185/Building-Inspection.

5. Youth & Family Services: Be someone who matters to someone who matters – become a Mountain Mentor. Make a one-year commitment of just 8 hours a month to brighten the life of a Summit County child or teen. Learn More at www.summitcountyco.gov/mentor.

6. Road & Bridge: Avoid parking in the road, and clear snow from your driveway onto your own property. Cars that are parked on the road slow down our plowing operations and interfere with snow removal. Snow that’s pushed into the road from driveways creates safety hazards for other drivers. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/plow.

7. Animal Control: Scoop the poop. Clean up after your pet every time, even when it’s cold and snowy. Pet waste left in parks, yards and trails is an unwelcome springtime surprise. Also remember to license your dog, as it can turn into his or her ticket home. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/animalcontrol.

8. Planning: Get involved in the decisions that shape your neighborhood. Stay abreast of development projects in your neck of the woods – it’s a lot easier to influence a project before it happens. And talk to your neighbors about big and small projects to raise concerns, get answers to questions and find common ground. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/106/planning.

9. Information Systems: Maintain a strong password and educate yourself about other cyber-security strategies. We each have to do our part to keep the Internet safe and protect against threats to our finances, identity, security and privacy. Learn more at www.stopthinkconnect.org.

10. Library: Read one book per month. Books help us discover new ideas, connect us with others and inspire our imaginations. Get a free library card at one of our local branches in Frisco, Silverthorne or Breckenridge. Learn more at www.summitcountylibraries.org.

11. Clerk & Recorder: Don’t let your license plates expire. State law requires a late fee of $25 per month, up to $100, for vehicle registrations renewed outside the grace period. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/124.

12. Environmental Health: Test your home for radon. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Test your home today to see if you and your family are being exposed to this deadly gas. Free kits are available from the Summit County Environmental Health offices. If your home has previously tested high, pursue mitigation. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/radon.

13. Emergency Management: Be prepared while traveling with your family. Stock your car with food, water, a deck of cards, jumper cables and a blanket, among other items, to keep everyone warm and happy in case of an unexpected road closure. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/emergencymanagement.

14. Snake River Wastewater Treatment Plant: Keep household hazardous waste out of sewer systems. Some types of household chemicals, such as pesticides, can upset biological treatment processes at wastewater treatment facilities. They can also carry through the facility and be discharged to receiving streams, potentially harming aquatic life. Learn more at www.highcountryconservation.org/waste-reduction/recycling-faqs/hhw-recycling.

15. Summit Stage: Take public transit once a week. Whether you’re headed for the slopes, your workplace or a night on the town, the Summit Stage can help you avoid parking headaches and cut your carbon footprint. Learn more at www.summitstage.com.

16. Treasurer: If you have a mortgage, check to make sure your taxes are being escrowed and paid by your mortgage company. The Summit County Treasurer’s Office sends out tax notices to property owners and their mortgage companies. Review the information in the notice and accompanying letter. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/treasurer.

17. CSU Extension: Create defensible space. Defensible space is an area around a home or other structure where vegetation has been cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. Defensible space also creates a safe zone for firefighters to work and reduces the chance that a structure fire will spread to the forest. Learn more at www.summitcountyco.gov/wildfiremitigation.